Once in a while, a true, inspiring footballing cult figure along. Those that can effortlessly endear a collection of supporters, though often going under the radar amid those in the upper echelons of stardom. In fact, there’s the argument that every team needs one.
And you’d be lying if you said Adel Taarabt didn’t spring to mind. Adored by those who filled White Hart Lane on a week-by-week basis, his combination of flair and poise was captivating.
A divisive figure, he was, but when Taarabt stepped on the field, there was a guarantee of excitement. He first moved to England in 2007, moving from RC Lens to Tottenham Hotspur, but things didn’t start terrifically for the talented trickster.
Albeit captivating, the now-36-year-old failed to assert himself as a regular under a trio of managers – Harry Redknapp, Juande Ramos and Martin Jol – in north London. He became something of a journeyman, having played in all corners of the globe, but would things have been much different if he opted for Arsenal instead?
Spurs Cult Hero Taarabt Regrets Not Moving to Rivals Arsenal
‘I think it was a more French club – for me, it would have been easy with Arsene Wenger’
Although incomprehensible for those of a Tottenham persuasion, a move to Arsenal – who were in the infancy of their Emirates era at that point – was on the cards, according to the former Benfica and AC Milan ace, who is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s most skilful players of all time.
He revealed all when speaking to former Tottenham teammate Jamie O’Hara. The two lined up alongside one another on five different occasions, and they recently caught up after Taarabt dialled in on O’Hara’s talkSPORT show.
O’Hara asked whether the fleet-footed Moroccan looks back on his time spent in England glowingly. “Yes, of course!” Taarabt said. “I am a big fan of football; I had a great time. Sometimes I reflect on my career and if I had made some decisions differently, I believe my career would be completely different.”
Taarabt perhaps shocked O’Hara by then insisting that moving to Arsenal may have been more beneficial to him at that point in time. He said, “My first choice that I think was not good – not signing for Tottenham, because Tottenham is a good club. But, at the time, I had the chance to go to Arsenal.”
“I think it was a more French club – for me, it would have been easy with Arsene Wenger, they had a lot of French players. And they were playing well.”
Not only did Arsenal employ more French-speaking players – but the issue was also to do with the fact that big-name players (Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov were named by Taarabt) were at the forefront of Tottenham's future which meant minutes were limited.
“At Tottenham, I arrived in the dressing room with Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, big characters, difficult to get a chance. I followed Damien Comoli, he was at Arsenal, I should’ve gone to Arsenal, but suddenly he was at Tottenham, and he brought me there.”
Taarabt has publicly spoken about the biggest regret of his unorthodox career before. Speaking to The National in 2024, he said that his preference was moving to the red side of north London. "I signed for Tottenham, but I wanted to sign for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, the legendary Frenchman,” he said.
“But (Spurs director of football) Damian Comolli wanted me to go to Tottenham. He told me he was creating something. Gareth Bale arrived at the same time as me, Kyle Walker soon after – it was a good club, but not one that gave young players many chances."
Taarabt’s Unique Career Post-Tottenham
Now 36, he’s playing in the UAE Pro League
Footballers like Taarabt – who, for good reason, is one of the most frustrating players in Premier League history – are a dying breed. They don’t follow patterns of rules and that’s evidenced by his career path following a short stint with Spurs.
He joined Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2010 after back-to-back loan stints. Loftus Road was often flat – but Taarabt ensured to keep spirits high with glimpses of brilliance, chipping in with an impressive return of 34 goals and 41 assists.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: It took Taarabt, thanks to his route to the first team via the B-team and a loan to Genoa, four years to make his senior debut for Benfica.
His subsequent 16-game loan spell at Fulham may be less memorable, but he still caught the eye of AC Milan, who signed the Fez-born star on loan in January 2014. Spells at Benfica, Genoa, Al-Nasr followed and now, at the age of 36, he’s still playing.
For Sharjah FC in the UAE Pro League, that is. A player able to enchant and frustrate in equal measure, he scored nine goals and six assists in 41 outings last term. Many witnessed what the real Adel Taarabt was about; but it’s a career shrouded in regret.
The important question is: when he eventually hangs up his boots, will the streets ever forget him? Definitely not.